[Legal/Financial Records] 2 Manuscripts in 1 Volume: ++ LEDGER. B 1837 AND 1838/ LEDGER. B. (Ink ownership: “James Leattor/ December 15th 1837”). Entries pertain to a couple dozen individual customers (sums transacted in the single and double digits). Mostly tangible goods (“sundries,” boots, potatoes,etc). Some pertain to financial instruments. (“Settled in note given 27th Augt 1839 & Judgement entered” on p12. “Suit brought settlement proven” on p28.) ++ DOCKET A OF CHARLES BRATTON MAY 10 1845. Consists of short records, mostly of civil cases brought in a Justice of the Peace Court for Mifflin County (in central Pennsylvania), naming the plaintiff, defendant, and judgment issued (usually against the defendant). Some entries record the issuance of a warrant and/or a transcription of another document, such as an affidavit. Most cases were debt-related. Most entries record a value of less than $100, even if the exact value at issue is not recorded. For instance, “Civil suit on book account not exceeding $100…” (p5). Most entries are in a single hand, presumably that of Bratton, but a few were written by at least 1 other person. At least 3 cases involving illegitimate children. (Records a warrant being issued based on Esther Kauffman’s affidavit of Feb. 26, 1848. This is immediately followed by a record of a warrant issued Apr. 6, 1848 based on Lydia Miller’s affidavit. That defendant was to be held on $500 bail until his arraignment May 8, 1848. Fornication case recorded of Aug. 3, 1859 stemmed from an affidavit by Catharine Miller, with a warrant being issued Mar. 10, 1858. $300 bail was paid on behalf of the defendant, Aaron Kauffman, who “…acknowledges himself to stand indebted to the township of Bratton for the sum of one hundred & eighty dollars…”) Many entries are late 1840s, but last date in text is in 1865, suggesting that after the first few years, most of Bratton’s duties were performed by others. Some entries mention Constable Decker. Handwritten below title: “On this Docket there shall be No Respect of Persons in way of Costs the shall all Pay their Equal Cost before the suit is settled as it has a Bad tendency to Let Costs… as Justice is to be done to the parties there shall justice be also Done to the officers in all cases – Commission Charge $5-10 one day Last going to be written.” Left margin of the record for many cases includes a list of fees which seem duplicative (i.e., summons, witnesses, constable, return, judgment, etc.). ++ Volume is folio, contemp full leather, spine lacking, covers separated. Contents mostly very good with tiny tears and relatively little handling wear. Sold with all faults. Placed in loose are a $75 promissory note signed by another member of the Bratton family (Mifflin County National Bank, very good) and at least 4 other financial items (handwritten, 1 partly printed, sent to members of the Bratton family, mostly worn).